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In Places No One Will Find | Chapter 2
There was a thudding noise as Ingrid dropped one of her suitcases in the common room, positioning her tinted sunglasses on her head as she called out.
"Anyone here?"
There was a silence, and shrugging, Ingrid turned to open the door, noticing a note taped to it.
*INGRID: WE ARE OUT AT CONVENTION. KAI SHOULD BE HOME. IF YOU NEED HELP ASK HIM.*
Snorting slightly, Ingrid walked back outside, and picked up a cardboard box, trudging back into the estate. Dropping it by her three other suitcases, she went out, and patting the hood of her black car affectionately, she slammed the trunk shut and slung her duffle bag over her shoulder. Now that all her luggage was inside, where to put it? Wishing Ray were there, and not really wanting to ask Kai, Ingrid exhaled sharply.
"Come on," she thought to herself, "He's not that cold. He offered to buy you dinner. He's fine."
Steeling herself, she quietly wandered around, taking small steps, listening for movement.
"Kai?" she tried hesitantly, her voice coming out a lot softer then she meant. Opening the first door in the main hallway, she found it empty. The next; empty. Empty. Empty. Empty. Then she opened one room, and stepping in cautiously, she was about to retreat for the person's privacy when she noticed Ray's robe. Was this her brother's room? Treading inside, she walked up to the desk, and smiled when she saw a picture of herself and Ray as kids, grinning madly. It was sort of touching, that he still had kept a sort of memento. Oh, but she'd make fun of Ray and say he just put it up when she arrived. It was the sort of thing they did; their odd affectionate little poking fun. Setting down the frame, she was leaving the room when she heard a rustling from the next room.
Shutting Ray's door behind her, she knocked gently on the next room down, and no one answered. But it was audible now, movement. Opening the door a crack, then fully, Ingrid's breath caught in her throat as she saw Kai sleeping, his blanket pushed down to his waist as the bottom of the blanket had ridden up on one side to his knees. Even asleep he looked guarded, and whispering his name, and receiving no response, Ingrid's brain screamed at her to leave. It was like walking into a wolf's den. In a sense it was. Putting one foot in front of the other, she kneeled down by the sleeping form, a few locks of slate hair falling in his shut eyes. She watched his chest rise and fall, the only sign he was breathing.
She wanted to brush those locks out of his face, but the cold reaction her mind was flashing her should he wake up stopped her.
"Kai?" she said loudly, and his fist splayed to the side as his eyes flickered open. Ingrid softened, it's like he was always running from something.
"What," he stated shortly as he briefly rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, stretching his body as he stood up.
"I was wondering what room to move my stuff into?" Ingrid asked pointedly, her soft gaze cooling as he gazed hardly at her.
"An empty one," he replied, and Ingrid nodded, her temper flaring. What was his problem?
"Thank you," she said shortly, leaving the room in annoyance.
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"Ingrid? Where the--" Ray called as he hunted throughout the main hall, noticing a door ajar as light flooded out of it. "You've always had the perfect girl's room," Ray smirked as he leaned against the doorframe, "Feminine and organized."
Ingrid scowled and threw a sweater at him as his cat like gaze roamed over the clothes and CD's scattered everywhere. Products were strewn across her mahogany dresser, and a large poster with a picture of The Clash, Ingrid's favorite band from the 80's, was taped to the wall. Her guitar lay against her amp, the black and white colors contrasting each other.
"I'm sorry I'm not Martha Stewart," Ingrid replied, crossing her room and sitting on her bed, surprisingly neatly made and fresh looking.
"I'm just kidding, you only had a cockroach infestation in your room once," Ray grinned, "Suggestion? Try eating in the common room or the kitchen dining room."
"I'm an adult, Ray, I know," Ingrid replied exasperatedly, "Suggestion? Shut up."
"Ooh, you've grown creative over the years," Ray teased, and Ingrid smiled despite herself. "So how do you like the place?"
"It's nice," Ingrid nodded, "Just some people."
"Like who?" Ray asked, already knowing the answer.
"A certain boy with an attitude problem and is colder then ice?"
"Hmm," Ray pondered, "Max?"
"Quiet you," Ingrid retorted, "Max is a sweetheart. Kai."
"I know," Ray nodded, growing serious, "Just, he's always been like that, but he means well, really. Just—Hey, half of these clothes are from HIGH SCHOOL," Ray exclaimed, veering off subject again.
"So?" Ingrid huffed, "Just because I'm not as rich as you, Mr. Famous Beyblader, and the clothes fit."
"You should go shopping, Mariah, Shanoz, and Harley could take you. Hell, even Alice could take you if she and Kenny would stop going to those computer conventions."
"Shopping with GIRLS?" Ingrid whined, flopping back on to her bed.
"It's normal, unlike you," Ray smirked, and Ingrid kicked a running shoe at him.
"But they look EVERYWHERE," she protested, "And they try so many things on!"
"You barely know them, don't be so judgemental," Ray chided, and Ingrid inhaled. "I like them, a lot, and I'd gladly hang out with them any day. Just I usually go shopping by myself, or with one person."
"Well, whatever floats your boat. But do you have a dress for my wedding?"
"I'll find one," Ingrid replied, and Ray smiled.
"I'll pay for it, it'll be my gift to you." To his surprise Ingrid's eyes flickered amber orange.
"Ray, don't make me into a reason for a fundraiser. I'm not dirt poor, I can buy my own gown." Truthfully, her room currently was just a little smaller then her apartment. Ray looked at her questioningly, silence buzzing in their ears.
"I'm just--"
"Ray, it's okay," Ingrid interrupted, flushing slightly, feeling bad for losing her temper, "Just, I… Sorry."
"Don't worry about it," Ray replied understandingly, and bringing her into a hug he stroked the crown of her head. "If anything's bugging you, you can always talk to me about it. You don't have to tell me, but if you just need a brother."
"You're my only brother," Ingrid sniffed, and Ray smiled.
"Not the point. But just, stay strong there."
"Thanks."
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Walking into the bridal shop, Ingrid didn't even know why she had been upset yesterday evening. Exhaling sharply, the bell tinkled throughout the shop, and she pursed her lips as a woman, middle aged, approached her.
"Hello, are you the 1 o clock appointment or 1:15?"
"Uh, 1," Ingrid replied, and the woman smiled warmly. "Great, shall we get started?" Ingrid nodded, her gaze falling on several pastel dresses, lace screaming itchiness poking out as some were embellished with tacky sparkles.
"See anything you like?" the woman smiled, and Ingrid tried her best to smile back, her left cheek twitching.
"It's all very… Glamorous," Ingrid put politely, "So much… Selection."
"Well we'll have to narrow down your selection," the woman laughed good naturedly, "Or else we'll be in here all day! Any particular color scheme?"
"Well," Ingrid replied, eying a bubblegum pink taffeta dress, "I'd like some uh, low key natural colors."
"So browns, taupe, beige, golds?"
"Uh, sure," Ingrid nodded, and the woman scrawled something in her leather bound planner.
"Darker tones or lighter tones?"
"Whatever floats," Ingrid replied offhandedly, sitting down gratefully on a plush arm chair.
"I'd say mid tones," the woman nodded expertly, "Any particular skirt line you wish?"
"No," Ingrid replied, and as the woman wrote something more, she peeked over at what exactly WAS being written down and paled. It was a long list of questions, and as the woman finished writing, she flicked through out the pages, to the end. QUESTION 99, Ingrid made out, and she felt like screaming and running out of the store. 99 or more questions. This was going to be a long day.
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"So would you like exotic or contemporary?" the woman asked, scribbling notes in her planner frantically, and Ingrid's mouth was slightly parched. The woman had been questioning her for twenty minutes now, and she felt it was such a big fuss. Maybe if she was the bride, but she was only a bridesmaid.
"Uh, doesn't matter," Ingrid replied, and the woman looked the raven haired girl up and down.
"I think exotic, it would bring out your eyes," she smiled, and Ingrid shrugged. Biting the tip of her pen, the women stood up from the fluffy armchair and ran her hands through the different silks and dresses, when she finally beamed and plucked out a dark copper amber dress. "Perfect," the woman breathed, and as she handed it to Ingrid, Ingrid scrunched up her nose. It looked like a copper smock.
"Oh, we haven't tailored it yet, we never do till we find the dress for the customer," the woman laughed, noting Ingrid's expression. "Now if you'd go into that changing room, and put that on… It's a unisex room, so be careful when coming out; but right now I think we only have one other client." Nodding, Ingrid thrust aside the white canvas curtain and shut it again after stepping inside the room. Stripping and putting the smooth amber material on, she emerged, nearly choking as she did so. On the other side of the bridal salon was Kai, looking bored as a woman was tailoring the ends of his pants. His shirt was bluish grey, with faint thin diagonal black lines, the shirt made of four pieces of material so not all the lines lined up. He looked well… He looked good. Swallowing a lump in her throat, Ingrid stood on the small platform, busying herself by staring at some gloves displayed as the woman began to work at gathering the skirt.
Kai's maroon gaze flickered over, and Ingrid had just then hesitantly peeked over. He noted the smock of a dress she was wearing, and her temper flared at his degrading look. Looking away, she felt her breath go slightly as the woman started to pull in the bodice, the dress gaining shape. She felt very uncomfortable, avoiding Kai's eyes at all cost. But it was eating at her… Was he looking at her? She could look at him from her peripheral vision… Or maybe just flick her eyes across the room and quickly see. About to do that, the woman patted her on the back.
"It's beautiful," the woman smiled, and Ingrid stepped off the platform and walked to the full length mirrors. Black stitching was going up the bodice, the parts the light reflected on the material making it glow. The color accentuated her eyes without clashing, and bronze silk rippled from her waist to the floor as the woman grabbed some hair near Ingrid's face and pulled it back, securing it with a bobby pin.
"There. You're ready."
"I normally hate dresses," Ingrid admitted, "But I actually like this one."
"I'm honoured," the woman laughed, "Hmm… So with Mariah's discount, the total comes to… $400, however, I'd be glad to knock it back to $350." Ingrid's expression remained the same, but tightened slightly.
"Hmm, that's pretty high," Ingrid murmured, and the woman nodded apologetically.
"I'm afraid I can go no lower," the women said. Ingrid felt that familiar uneasy sting at the back of her head. The dress cost her a week's salary. It was stunning, and she maybe would like the perfect girl at Ray's wedding. Her family had always loved her; she knew that. And she loved them back. They were, in that sort of sense, a complete family. But she knew they had wanted a pretty in pink child when she was born, not… Not her. As a child, her mother and father always tried to push dolls towards her, but she'd crawl over to Ray and play with his toys. Eventually, their parents had stopped trying, and accepted Ingrid's personality with love. And Ray had a lot to do with it. He always stood up for her, and whenever she picked up a doll, to make her parents or someone happy, he'd tease her and ask her if she was trying to be some girl.
Ray.
His words echoed in her head, cutting through. He could buy it for her.
But no. She refused to accept charity; from family or not. If she always relied on people for her financial troubles, she'd never make it on her own. And even when she got married, she intended to contribute, not stay at home and cook all day.
"Buy it," came a voice, and Ingrid snapped her head to the speaker. "You have several weddings to go to, and I'm sure with different hair styles or jewellery it would look different." Looking at Kai suspiciously, Ingrid nibbled on the inside of her lip, then looked at her reflection in the mirror.
"I'll give you a moment," the woman smiled understandingly, and moving to a room in the back, Ingrid fidgeted as Kai stared at the floor.
"If you're worried about money," he began, and Ingrid's eyes flickered.
"I don't need any," she interrupted, and Kai gave her a lopsided half smile as he looked up.
"If you're worried about money," he continued, "Then don't buy it. I'm sure you'll look good in anything," he said, his gaze serious and cool. Turning bright red, Ingrid whispered a gruff thanks as Kai shrugged and crossed the room to get his final adjustments.
"I guess I'll take it," Ingrid smiled as the woman returned, and the woman laughed.
"The boys will be drooling."
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"I saw your outfit," Ingrid offered as the two exited the store, "It's nice."
"Thanks," Kai replied, keeping his gaze ahead cold. Subdued, Ingrid sighed softly as she stopped at her car.
"See you later."
"That's your car?" Kai asked, raising his eyebrow.
"Yeah," she replied defensively, and Kai looked it over.
"Is it a '67 or a '68 Chevelle Super Sport?"
"'67," Ingrid replied, impressed.
"Did you name it," Kai asked, his expression screaming that naming a car was stupid.
"Yes," she replied indignantly, "His name is Fallon."
"Good, not naming your car is like not naming your baby," Kai smiled, and Ingrid was slightly taken a back by the mood swings. The way his expressions were so deceiving.
Kai was losing his cool. He was still cold, in a sense, but warmer then his usual self. But he didn't care; her personality was so raw and open, he wanted to gain her trust so badly. She was just, so magnetic, her expressive eyes, and yet… He wanted to push her away.
"You're weird, you know that?" Ingrid smiled, and Kai looked at her. "Well, I guess we should head back," Ingrid suggested, looking up at the dark grey sky, "I'll see you at the estate, okay?"
"Right," Kai nodded, and they as she got in the car he walked away without looking back.
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"Have fun," Ray smiled as Mariah kissed him on the cheek before stepping out of the car.
"Shanoz is coming to pick me up, so you go have fun," Mariah grinned, and Ray put on a mock hurt face.
"You don't want to see me?" he teased, and Mariah nodded cheekily. Growling, Ray pulled her in the car and planted a soft kiss on her lips, his hands and as a smirk broke out onto his face Mariah leaned in and wrapped her hands around his neck, her knee supporting her on the car seat. His hands played with her magenta hair, and just as he was about to prod his tongue through her lips she parted the kiss and smiled.
"Well after that I definitely want to see you," she smiled, "But you can't see the dress."
"Well then," Ray pouted, "Bye."
Shutting the door, Mariah tapped on the window, and Ray obligingly rolled it down.
"But I will see you tonight," she winked before quickly turning and entering the haven of white dresses. Ray smiled idiotically and drove away, humming merrily.
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Curling up under her covers, Ingrid sighed as she stared out into the black night through the tall windows. Moonlight reflected onto her features, and she frowned. Moving here was all in all, a good decision. She didn't feel as isolated, and it took the burden of rent off her shoulders. Food was also no longer an issue—Yet, with all of them being relatively famous the financial situation was blown up. She just wished she was as successful as the rest of them. Or maybe just more confident. Perhaps a pep talk from Ray would help. Throwing on a bathrobe over her shorts and tank top, Ingrid padded silently down the hallway and stopped at her brother's door. Knocking gently, she frowned when there was no answer. Knocking again, she was about to turn the doorknob when her blood ran cold, her left cheek twitching visibly.
There was a loud moan from what sounded like Ray, and she could hear Mariah mumbled something, rustling of sheets audible, grunts and pants in between.
"Don't stop," Ray pleaded, their breathing heavy and panting as an indescribable noise was released. As Ingrid's eyes widened, she backed away, then turned and sprinted down the stairs for her life, biting on her lip to prevent from screaming her head off. Dashing into the kitchen, she flung open a cupboard and grabbed a glass. Pouring some water in, she shakily made her way to the fridge and turned on the ice dispenser. With the extra stress, she pulled the lever too hard and ice splashed into her cup as well as all over the floor.
Didn't some people know not to do… Do THAT when other people were in the house! Especially her brother! And Mariah! Couldn't they go to a motel or something? Or hang a sock on their door? Images of the traumatic damage that could have been inflicted on her plagued her mind.
"EW, EW, EW," Ingrid said aloud, hopping from foot to foot as she took a shaky sip of water, crunching on the frigid ice. "OH GOD, if I had opened the door- EW, EW, EW!" Ingrid spat immaturely, scrunching up her body and shaking her free hand.
As she open her firmly clenched eyes, slightly calmed down, Ingrid saw Kai standing by the doorframe in his pyjamas looking at her. Instinctively stepping backward the ball of her foot met a piece of ice, and slipping her glass of water went flying in the air as she fell to the ground with a loud thud.
Ouch.
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